Of Ashes and Embers

Redemption

Training with someone other than Sportsmaster is usually at least a little fun. Today it's nerve-wracking. I would be nervous even without the doctor's damn drugs running through my veins. I know he'll be watching me. Ra's is here, to see where I'm at in my training. Why they put drugs in me for that I'll never know. I won't be fighting one of the guards. Ra's has likely brought someone he handpicked for me to fight today. Losing is not an option. I take a couple of deep breaths and roll my shoulders back. The pops are satisfying. I'm standing just outside of the training room, waiting, I wouldn't say patiently, to be called in. Before Taipei, the last time I saw Ra's was right after the incident. My memory is blurry, but I know he was there for at least a little while. I think his daughter was as well. Or at least one of them. The elder? I'm not sure.

"Kid," I hear my handler shout and I enter the training room. The man standing in the middle of the room seems deceiving. He's small. And rather young compared to other Shadows that I've fought. I glance up. Behind him on the raised observation platform is Sportsmaster, Ra's, and his personal guard. I bow my head to him. I'm trying to be respectful to Ra's but kneeling with an assassin in front of me is not something I'm willing to do.

"You may begin when ready," Sportsmaster states. My eyes go back to the man on my level. His stance is a little stiff. His hand twitches upwards slightly. He's got a sword on his back. He likely favors it as a weapon. I'm fine with that. I don't need to be that close to fight. Not until I want to. He shifts slightly, weight more on the left leg now. Is his right leg injured? It's a definite maybe. I'm making him uncomfortable, even though it's only been a couple of seconds. Alright, let's get this over with then.

I run towards the man as if I'm going to attack him. I'm not really. I don't like attacking knowing so little. He steps forward in a slightly awkward manner, pulling his sword out, long curved blade, a scimitar. I flip back out of his range. I try not to smirk. He favors his left leg too much, his right one's a weak link. Rule ten: when injured, hide it; keep fighting as usual or your enemy will take advantage. And he's confused, which is just a bonus. I throw three of my knives. One aiming for his head, another for his chest, the third for his right thigh. He uses his sword to block the first two and sidesteps the last one. He comes at me and swings his blade, apparently willing to decapitate me. I somersault forwards, underneath the arc of the sword. Coming up to my feet I immediately send my elbow into his stomach. There's a quiet satisfying swoosh of air that leaves him. Before he has a chance to retaliate, I drop to a crouch and attempt to sweep his legs out from underneath him. He jumps it and swings a foot at me. I'm forced to roll backwards to avoid it. The sword comes at me before I can get up and I jerk myself to the side, the blade connects with my side, I grit my teeth. Rolling back to my feet, I pull out the escrima sticks. This time I meet his sword, holding him in a block like I did the Atlantean. I swing my leg up and it smashes hard into his right leg, near the knee, there's a satisfying grunt, I do it again before he can back out of the hold.

"How'd you hurt your leg," I ask teasingly. I chuckle at the glare I get in response. He steps towards me, his limp much more obvious now, raising his sword to almost above his head before bringing it down towards me. He's getting annoyed. I dodge to the side and use a vertical platform to launch myself back towards him. I pull another knife out. My foot is aimed for his skull, and that's what he focuses on. He blocks my kick but the knife sinks into his right leg, just above the knee. He drops to his knees with a muffled cry, I land just beside him. Before he can react, I swing an escrima stick into the side of his head, he crumples the rest of the way to the ground.

"Well done," Ra's congratulates, his voice seems to echo throughout the room. I turn to him and kneel; the assassin is no threat now.

"Thank you, sir," I respond, my head bowed.